The Los Angeles based band Dawes are back, this time on their own label with a new album All Your Favorite Bands. That title comes from the song of the same name which wishes an ex that all things go well in their life including all their favorite bands never breaking up. The new album was made with David Rawlings - Gillian Welch's partner in all things musical and otherwise - producing in Nashville. In our conversation the band describes him as kind of a “basketball coach.” Along with songs from the new album they also do a version of the Warren Zevon song that they performed for David Letterman during his last run, “Desperadoes Under The Eaves.” Songwriter Taylor Goldsmith declares it the best song ever about Los Angeles.

Dawes is a four piece American Folk-Rock band that emerged from the original band Simon Dawes after the departure of their lead singer and song writer.

When they left behind Simon Dawes they also left behind their post punk sound for a folk rock sound and image. Dawes is on tour in the US right now playing music from their latest album Stories Dont End which is available for purchase or download.

With the departure of Blake Mills from the post-punk outfit Simon Dawes, and name change and genre switch created the folk rock outfit that's been centered in the Laurel Canyon sound. (Laurel Canyon is situated in the North Hills area of LA, and many on the roster of artists coming from this space cite deep influences such as Neil Young and Crosby, Stills and Nash.) Their debut was recorded in a live session, directly to analog, in Laurel Canyon, and included multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone (Wilco).

Two years after their acclaimed debut, "North Hills", Dawes have released their rewarding follow-up, "Nothing is Wrong". Playing a brand of rock and roll in the same vein as Tom Petty, The Band, and Bruce Springsteen, Dawes combines introspective songwriting with talented instrumentation to create a sound that is at once nostalgic and immediate. Having recently performed as Robbie Robertson’s backing band, Dawes have already gained a respect in the music world that takes most bands five or six albums to accrue. What makes "Nothing is Wrong" so interesting is that the songs were all written while Dawes was on the road. As such there is a distinctly live, organic quality to the track. That is, the band really meshes well, with tasteful bass, steady percussion, hypnotic guitar, and sparkling keys complimenting each other perfectly. "Nothing is Wrong" proves that their fantastic debut was no fluke, and that Dawes will be a band to follow for a long time.

Dawes is currently touring with Blitzen Trapper, co-headlining a number of fall dates. Stops are throughout North America, and include DC, San Diego, Dallas, and Vancouver.

The Best World Cafe Performances From 2013
We sifted through all 188 bands and individual artists that joined us to perform on the World Cafe in 2013 and we have settled on the very best for these two hours. It wasn’t easy.
I get to sit opposite singers or in the midst of the bands (I’m usually next to the drummer) every day as we talk about the music. It’s only later as we listen to the playback that I get to hear how extraordinary the songs we capture really are. Nobody phones it in. Even if they have driven all night from Boston they bring it for The World Cafe and ultimately you.

Today we will hear from Laura Marling, Okkervil River, Richard Thompson, Jason Isbell, Dawes and Phoenix just to name a few. Unique performances, this is what we do. Enjoy!
Some of the performances that were bubbling under are available for free downloads.

May 20, 2013 - Taylor Goldsmith, the songwriter for the Los Angeles based band Dawes, writes heartfelt first-person songs somewhat in the style of his So Cal Laurel Canyon predecessors like Jackson Browne. In an exhaustive interview today with the Cafe’s Michaela Majoun he tells about the inspiration on many of the new songs on Stories Don't End.

The band’s new album was recorded across the country in Asheville, North Carolina, on the group’s own dime as they have decided to go independent and release their records themselves. Their last Nothing Is Wrong was a major success for the four-piece. It led to them opening for Mumford & Sons and others and building a strong fan base.

Dawes played an XPN Free At Noon in March and you can LISTEN to the full, live performance here. Dawes will play the XPoNential Music Festival this July on the waterfront in Camden at Wiggins Park!

May 20, 2013 - Taylor Goldsmith, the songwriter for the Los Angeles based band Dawes, writes heartfelt first-person songs somewhat in the style of his So Cal Laurel Canyon predecessors like Jackson Browne. In an exhaustive interview today with the Cafe’s Michaela Majoun he tells about the inspiration on many of the new songs on Stories Don't End.

The band’s new album was recorded across the country in Asheville, North Carolina, on the group’s own dime as they have decided to go independent and release their records themselves. Their last Nothing Is Wrong was a major success for the four-piece. It led to them opening for Mumford & Sons and others and building a strong fan base.

Dawes played an XPN Free At Noon in March and you can LISTEN to the full, live performance here. Dawes will play the XPoNential Music Festival this July on the waterfront in Camden at Wiggins Park!

A festival veteran and April 2010’s Artist To Watch, Dawes will be captivating audiences at XPoNential once again with driving beats and lively presence. Their new release, Stories Don’t End is another collection of excellent songs featuring the storytelling and songwriting work of lead singer Taylor Goldsmith.